Welsh Spine #6 - Point of return

Optiganally Yours - Oar / Geppetto

Bedraggeled we enter the Moel Prysgau bothy. We are completely alone. The bothy consists of one chamber inside which a second, smaller room has been constructed using plasterboards. The main room is spacious with a high ceiling. We close the door behind us. Droplets of water running down our noses fall crashing on the concrete floor. In one corner there is a large bunk able to accommodate 4 persons, on the opposite wall, on a long table, a bunch of tools are scattered. Yet there was something different that has caught our attention.

Welsh spine #5 - Bearable wetness of being

Burt's Bees "Music from Nature"

     A solid roof over our heads, wooden floor beneath our mattresses. These and other luxuries meant we didn't get to notice the bad weather outside until later into the morning. We had a good night's sleep, only Radek, or rather his snoring woke me up somehow prematurely. Three roll-overs to the other side, two kind "Oi's!" and one battery throw later, I could continue my slumber. Mind you, the battery didn't woke Radek up, oddly enough it just stopped his snoring.

Welsh spine #4 - Glyndwr and Burger's revenge

Explosions in the sky - First breath after coma

       The morning annouced itself with rain tapping on our tents. It wasn't particularly heavy rain and so we packed up whilst keeping a close eye at any signs inclement weather to come. Clouds sped across the sky bringing rain followed by sunshine and then rain again. "Nothing tragic" - we observe, anyway it was getting late from all this rain-spotting and we decide to get on our way to Machynlleth.

Welsh Spine #3 - Rain or shine?

Rain or shine. A great day out.

roadside commercial at the entrance to Tywyn

hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!


hou! hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!hou!

     The creature accompanied us nearly for the whole night, yet it left our weary souls untouched...weary? yeah right. I've slept like a baby and my feeling is the guys did so even more. Unfortunately the morning welcomed us with a rather poor weather. While we were breaking camp the drizzle eased and we could slowly reorganise ourselves and our belongings straight onto the bikes. 

A short, but intense cross-country section lead us to Trawsfynydd, where we had a chance to resupply at a small shop. I buy some cheap gloves to keep my hands comfortably warm. Radek uses the premises of a private lavatory to wash his shoes. Just a few minutes ago he got to meet the "chocolate" side of Wales. We lost our track for a brief moment and when it finally reappeared a bit to the side, it turned out, we had to cross a small bog.

Intermission

If I didn't have to work for money,

I'd become an arts or beauty admirer...

Buddy Lukas

Rough Sea by Mr. Div

   

Welsh Spine #2 - The good

You have to take the good with the bad...

Welsh lady from Trefriw

     After unzipping our vestibules on a Monday morning, our eyes catch a glimpse of the clear, blue skies, occasionally interrupted by white clouds. Some 500 meters in front of us are the sandy beaches of Colwyn Bay and just behind our back, shooting in the air are the eroded walls of Penmean-bach. A carpet of violet flowers covering the hill's lower parts seems to contradict it's otherwise raw character.  

Why ponder? We stuff breakfast into our bellies and gear onto our bikes and move on... slooowlyy starting our trip with the climb up the Sychnant Pass. It's much easier now after yesterday's training, Pavel on his Agent Orange rushes ahead, and I - using the advantage gained - lurk at the roadside to take a picture of Radek riding out of Dwygyfychli.

Welsh Spine #1 - A very wet start

“Everyone wants happiness,
no one wants pain,
but you can't make a rainbow
without a little rain.”

Anonymous

      For the last couple of days I've been looking over all the junk, that has organized itself into groups and is now lying on the floor. Do I have everything I need? Wont I forget anything? I'm sure I will (it's become a tradition), but then again I don't have room for much - this alone minimises the risk of forgetting things.

Should I take those rainproof pants I have? Last time I've checked, the MET weather forecast looked great and during a phone call with Radek I say that I don't feel like hauling all those additional grams with me. On the day of my departure I change my mind. "Better safe than sorry" - I think while watching out the browser window at the gloominess of Conwy's weather forecast where we're supposed to start our trip. I give Radek a heads up on my sudden increase in vital powers and the willingness to carry additional weight. What a beautiful decision it was! But more on that later...hush, hush.

BIG changes are coming (?)

...like anybody I find I’m drawn to things that sometimes seem all wrong.
Dominique Fraissard

I guess I'm sick of pushing, especially when there's a chance I could still be pedaling.... Winter, some 900 days ago, white, new rubber, fancy... with spikes... Into the forest! no can do, to thin, cutting into the cold crust... Head down and a fast retreat, wasn't even enough to reach the tree line. We'll meet again.

Teaser - riding down the Welsh spine

All your dreams will come true,

all my dreams came true
But now,

I have a bunch of other dreams...

Sonic Youth "Quest for the Cup"

Nobody likes to wait - neither do I - that is why I have just finished editing my pictures from our last trip.
Best enjoyed in full screen mode ;)

Pleasant viewing!

Here and now

Rwy'n caru Cymru!
Me

...the end.

Just came back from our trip down the welsh spine. We had chosen the worst week possible it seems. One sunny day. One. Afterwards it's hide and seek with the sun and then the weather just started pouring on and over us, our paths and bridges. 

There and then

The beginning...

questions

searches
isohypses
surges 

Elenydd - supplement

If there is no content, then we may put there all sorts of content.

Cruise

by Enduro Me

...yet another setup post.

As I have already written my Elenydd trip didn't go without setbacks mistakes. Apart from underestimating the difficulties of the moorland crossings and lack of warm clothing for my limbs (eg. VBL socks and long finger gloves) a huge mistake was not taking an emergency food portion. 

Let's get to the point:

Elenydd - the Green Desert of Wales

...there is only so much you can do.
But, if you do that much
then you really do get somewhere....

Mike Curiak

...time was passing by showing no mercy and I was still looking for an opportunity to try out how my bike would handle in terrain while loaded. Time, commitments, weather... none of them seemed deigned to cooperate with the rest or even be wiling to meet halfway, when suddenly... all this faded into significance.  It was then that time appeared out of nowhere, forecast didn't seem as grim and commitments ended up tied up in the basement. I was heading out!

Still here, still riding

...time on the hill is nonexistent

what's the point
 finally got there 

God that is beautiful
 as my heart gets softer...

Hubert Dobaczewski

Traveling on route NCN47 around Afan Forest.

I've been absent quite a long time as there was not much to write about. A lot of water under the bridge  and a lot of things happening around... cycling wasn't one of them, but as far as I could I've been nursing my good relationships with Welsh mountains - mainly by foot.